What is Cardiothoracic Surgery: Everything You Need to Know 

Cardiothoracic surgery is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the surgical treatment of diseases affecting the organs and structures within the chest, including the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels. It is a highly complex and challenging field that requires extensive training and expertise. 

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about cardiothoracic surgery, including what it is, the types of procedures performed, the training and qualifications required, and the latest advancements in the field. 

What is Cardiothoracic Surgery? 

Cardiothoracic surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases that affect the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels in the chest. These conditions can range from congenital heart defects and coronary artery disease to lung cancer and thoracic aortic aneurysms. 

Cardiothoracic surgeons use a variety of techniques to treat these conditions, including open-heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and robotic surgery. They work closely with other medical professionals, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, and anesthesiologists, to provide comprehensive care to their patients. 

Types of Cardiothoracic Procedures 

There are several types of cardiothoracic procedures that may be performed, depending on the specific condition being treated. Some of the most common procedures include: 

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) 

Coronary artery bypass grafting, or CABG, is a surgical procedure used to treat blockages in the coronary arteries. During the procedure, a surgeon creates a bypass around the blocked portion of the artery using a vein from the leg or an artery from the chest. 

Heart Valve Repair or Replacement 

Heart valve repair or replacement may be necessary if a patient has a damaged or diseased heart valve. During the procedure, the damaged valve is repaired or replaced with a prosthetic valve. 

Lung Resection 

Lung resection is a surgical procedure used to remove a portion of the lung. It may be necessary to treat lung cancer, lung infections, or other conditions affecting the lung. 

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair 

A thoracic aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta in the chest. If left untreated, it can lead to a life-threatening rupture. During a thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, a surgeon replaces the weakened portion of the aorta with a graft. 

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) 

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, is a minimally invasive procedure used to replace a damaged aortic valve. During the procedure, a new valve is implanted using a catheter inserted through a small incision in the leg. 

Training and Qualifications 

Cardiothoracic surgeons undergo extensive training and education before they are qualified to perform surgery. Typically, they will complete a medical degree, followed by a residency in general surgery and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery. 

In addition to their formal education, cardiothoracic surgeons must also be licensed to practice medicine in their state and board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. 

Advancements in Cardiothoracic Surgery 

Advancements in technology and surgical techniques have revolutionized the field of cardiothoracic surgery in recent years. Some of the latest advancements include: 

Robotic Surgery 

Robotic surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater precision and control. It uses a robotic arm to perform the surgery, guided by the surgeon using a console. 

Popular Cardiothoracic Surgeon In Boston, MA 

1. Dr. Julianne Finley – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

2. Dr. Robert Williams – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

3. Dr. Michael Davis – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

4. Dr. David Pinsky – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

5. Dr. Mark J. Russo – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA

6. Dr. Michael J. Ritvo – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA

7. Dr. Robert G. Smith – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

8. Dr. Richard B. Schipper – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA

9. Dr. Paul D. Schoenfeld – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, MA

10. Dr. Lawrence D. Wood – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA

11. Dr. Michael S. Habib – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge, MA

12. Dr. William M. Neuman – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Lawrence General Hospital, Lawrence, MA

13. Dr. Andrew J. Kahn – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA

14. Dr. Mehran Khorsandi – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Jordan Hospital, Plymouth, MA

15. Dr. L. Alan Katz – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA

16. Dr. John A. Petrocelli – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Milton, Milton, MA

17. Dr. William S. Lane – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, MA

18. Dr. Richard J. McWilliams – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA

19. Dr. Michael J. Cirigliano – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Marlborough Hospital, Marlborough, MA

20. Dr. Peter K. Liu – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Brighton, MA

21. Dr. Mark R. Sherman – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, South Shore Hospital, Weymouth, MA

22. Dr. Paul R. Burch – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport, MA

23. Dr. John R. Sullivan – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Morton Hospital, Taunton, MA

24. Dr. Joseph E. Kissane – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer, MA

25. Dr. John M. Kovalick – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, MA

26. Dr. Daniel A. Garvey – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, Brockton, MA

27. Dr. Jay I. Minkoff – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Heywood Hospital, Gardner, MA

28. Dr. Bruce S. Levy – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield, MA

29. Dr. Paul A. Cioffi – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, MA

30. Dr. Robert M. Cohen – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA

31. Dr. Daniel J. DeSimone – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford, MA

32. Dr. David G. Murray – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Jamaica Plain, MA

33. Dr. Richard S. Besser – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beverly Hospital, Beverly, MA

34. Dr. Robert J. Baum – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, Melrose, MA

35. Dr. Thomas K. Lee – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Winchester Hospital, Winchester, MA

36. Dr. Francis A. Alfieri – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA

37. Dr. Robert E. Witt – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA

38. Dr. Michael L. Korn – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham, Needham, MA

39. Dr. William D. Kuzon, Jr. – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, MA

40. Dr. Edward A. Perri – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

41. Dr. William J. Macnamara – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Carney Hospital, Dorchester, MA

42. Dr. Robert B. Kafer – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, St. Joseph Hospital, Nashua, NH

43. Dr. Jeffrey A. Knez – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, MA

44. Dr. David H. Adams – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Boston Children’s Hospital at Waltham, Waltham, MA

45. Dr. Paul R. Kocurek – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Baystate Noble Hospital, Westfield, MA

46. Dr. Michael J. Fackler – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA

47. Dr. Michael E. Hartz – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus, Worcester, MA

48. Dr. Robert L. Geller – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA

49. Dr. Matthew S. Fink – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Brockton, MA

50. Dr. Kenneth A. Lutchen – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

51. Dr. Lawrence J. Epstein – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA

52. Dr. Mark A. Beland – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge, MA

53. Dr. Eric S. Rose – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

54. Dr. Murray I. Shames – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, MA

55. Dr. Michael R. Goldman – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Winchester Hospital, Winchester, MA

56. Dr. Adam L. Dorfman – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, MA

57. Dr. Scott A. Stern – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

58. Dr. Brian K. Riley – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, Brockton, MA

59. Dr. Richard T. O’Brien – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

60. Dr. Robert G. O’Rourke – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Ayer, MA

61. Dr. Matthew T.M. Friend – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mercy Medical Center, Springfield, MA

62. Dr. Marc B. Cohen – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, South Shore Hospital, Weymouth, MA

63. Dr. K. John Fisher – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA

64. Dr. James T. Merola – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Jordan Hospital, Plymouth, MA

65. Dr. William F. Manion – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA

66. Dr. Richard J. Shemin – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

67. Dr. David M. Greuner – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham, Needham, MA

68. Dr. Steven F. Bolling – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA

69. Dr. Partho Sengupta – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA

70. Dr. Stephen P. Abramson – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

71. Dr. David R. Breen – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

72. Dr. Alan M. Markowitz – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

73. Dr. John M. Lasala – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Brighton, MA

74. Dr. Paul W. Collins – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, MA

75. Dr. Joseph F. Sabik, III – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus, Worcester, MA

76. Dr. Jonathan D. Katz – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, MA

77. Dr. Jason D. Luke – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

78. Dr. David A. Wood – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, South Shore Hospital, Weymouth, MA

79. Dr. John G. Reves – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

80. Dr. Mark J. Russo – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA

81. Dr. Michael J. Fischbein – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA

82. Dr. Keith A. Naunheim – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO

83. Dr. David E. Bobrow – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, Brockton, MA

84. Dr. David E. Lefkowitz – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Jamaica Plain, MA

85. Dr. John E. Mayer – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

86. Dr. John S. Laird – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, MA

87. Dr. Kenneth L. Fishbein – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA

88. Dr. Timothy E. Bove – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Boston, MA

89. Dr. Richard J. Shemin – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

90. Dr. Robert A. Kormos – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

91. Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Stanford, CA

92. Dr. Bruce A. Reitz – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Stanford, CA

93. Dr. Robert M. Sade – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC

94. Dr. John P. DiMarco – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA

95. Dr. Thomas A. Shaffer – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN

96. Dr. James E. Linder – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, Madison, WI

97. Dr. David J. Taggert – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

98. Dr. Robert M. Bojar – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

99. Dr. Charles C. Miller – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

100. Dr. Richard J. Shemin – Cardiothoracic Surgeon, University of California, Los Angeles, CA